The sweatbox has lost its appeal for popular Sydney jockey Rodney Quinn who has confirmed his retirement.

The multiple Group One winning rider has been sidelined since July after injuring his knee getting out of the sauna and he has decided he doesn't want to get back in.

Quinn said he was the heaviest he had ever been but was also fit and healthy and enjoying life away from the track.

He does go out a winner with his last ride on July 1 a successful one aboard Merlin Mustang at Rosehill.

"The injury was nothing major but it coincided with a planned holiday and during the time off I put on weight," Quinn said.

"I haven't had a problem before but now as I'm older it seems harder to lose the weight and I just don't want to have to get back in the sauna and sweat it off.

"I've been riding for 39 years but now it's all too hard."

Although he has had a few injuries during his career, Quinn is one of the few jockeys not to break any bones.

"It's mostly been just muscle-type injuries," he said.

Quinn said he planned to do very little for the next few months but hoped he could come back to a job in racing.

"I'm not sure what I could do but racing is all I know," he said.

"I just want to spend the next six months or so away from things and hopefully I can get a job in the industry in some capacity."

Quinn began his career as an apprentice at Nyngan in central NSW and was a mainstay at Crown Lodge, firstly under Vic Thompson and then John Hawkes, during the Jack and Bob Ingham era.

He rode more than 2000 winners and his last Group One win was aboard the Chris Waller-trained Stand to Gain in the 2011 Sydney Cup.

Quinn also rode winners during two stints in Hong Kong.